Despite being the drug most used in the treatment of allergic diseases, a study by the Massey Cancer Center at Virginia Commonwealth University (USA) has concluded that antihistamines may also have beneficial properties against cancer . The results of the study have been published in the Journal of Leukocyte Biology .
For their experiment, the researchers worked with two groups of mice: the first group created with a strong allergic response and the second with tumors. They examined the reaction of myeloid line-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) in both groups and found that after being treated with antihistamines, the drug blocked the production of histamine (a component of the immune system that responds to allergens and external pathogens). but it also managed to interrupt the progress of cancer growth in the group of mice with tumors , which shows the enormous potential of antihistamines to restore the ability of the immune system to fight cancer.
“This research is very interesting because it establishes a connection between two diseases that are not commonly related: allergy and cancer. However, it is important to note that this is a very new connection and that more studies are needed before knowing whether antihistamines can be used effectively in cancer therapies, ”says Daniel Conrad, professor of microbiology and immunology and study leader.
